Water distributing system



Jan, 3, 1956 Filed April 1, 1954 W. P. HEARN WATER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM 3Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIII'III'III'IIIIIA Walter P Hearn INVEN TOR.

BY MM Fm Jan. 3, 1956 w. P. HEARN 2,729,227

WATER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed April 1, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Walter PHearn INVEN TOR.

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Jan. 3, 1956 w. P.-HEARN 2,729,227

WATER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed April 1, 1954 .3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UnitedStates Patent 2,729,227 7 WATER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Walter P. Heal-n,Tucson, Ariz. Application April 1, 1954, Serial No. 420,327

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-122) This invention relates to fluid control systemsand aims primarily to provide a fluid control system especially designedand adapted for structural incorporation in a wide variety of means,mechanisms, apparatus and devices, which, or parts of which, arerequired to function periodically or be energized, actuated, set inmotion or otherwise successively influenced in accordance with apredetermined plan involving the proper timing of the controllinginfluence, with respect to both the starting time and the duration offunctioning of each controlled device, feature or period.

Broadly contemplated, therefore, by the present invention is theprovision of a novel and improved fluid control system, embracing fluidpressure supply means and a plurality of control units or devicesoperable in sequence by the fiuid pressure and rendered automatic in theperformance of their several actions by the fluid pressure flowingthereinto, and therefrom, to thereby control the discharge or deliveryof fluid from said supply means at a plurality of points, places orstations, successively.

With the foregoing in view, the invention essentially resides and ismore particularly concerned in the provision of a fluid control systemwhich is in its preferred embodiment characterized by the employment offluid pressure supply means having a plurality of discharge outletsleading therefrom, wherefrom the fluid is adapted to be discharged ordelivered successively; a control unit or device for each of saiddischarge outlets, all of said units being interconnected for chainoperation and each including means for storing energy derived from saidfluid pressure and utilizing the samefor actuating its succeeding unit,whereby the discharge or delivery of fluid from said discharge outlet issuccessively controlled or regulated as to time of occurrence andquantity and is dependent upon the flow of fluid from one outleteffecting actuation of the control unit of another outlet; andappliances or means whereby the oflices of the above mentioned agenciesare adjustably regulated to predeterminately control their respectiveactions, all of which are to be correlated in the broad aim of enhancingthe efiiciency of the present novel fluid control system for the varioususes and purposes for which it is primarily designed and intended.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control valve mechanismparticularly and specifically adapted to practice the above system inthe most efiicient and economical manner.

This invention is an improvement on my prior patent, No. 1,914,423,patented June 20, 1933.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a distributing systemconstructed in accordance with this invention;

2,729,227 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1on an increased scale, showing the system at the end of its cycle ofoperations;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing one of the improved valvemechanisms;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a preferred embodiment oftiming valve mechanism;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of the startingvalve assembly; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of one of thecontrol valve members.

Arid regions of the West make it necessary to irrigate gardens and lawnsif such are to be enjoyed. This is customarily done either with use of agarden hose or underground pipe protruding at intervals through thesurface of the ground and having a spray head attached at each suchprotrusion, these pipes terminating at one common point that is providedwith a manually operated valve to turn the water off and on. Normally,additional manual control valves are provided for controlling flow ofWater to various series of sprinkling heads. Such systems require thetime of an attendant and the consequent expense incurred thereby.

To obviate this disadvantage, a system such as that shown in Figure l isemployed. This system utilizes a main fluid supply line In which isconnected with a source of fluid under pressure and within which aseries of valve members V1, V2 and V-3, are interposed.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that eachvalve member consists of a casing having a lower section 12 and an uppersection 14 removably secured thereto, and that a diaphragm 16 is heldbetween the two sections so as to divide the interior of the casing intothe upper and lower chambers 18 and 20, respectively. The lower sectionis provided with a pair of threaded openings 22 and 26 by means of whichthe valve member is connected into the main supply line 10. The lowersection is also provided with a third threaded opening 26 connected toone of the sprinkler lines 28, 30 or 32 (see Figure 1). This opening isformed at the lower end of a valve sleeve 34 projecting into the lowerchamber 20 and terminating at its upper end in the annular seat 36adjacent the diaphragm 16.

The upper valve section 14 is formed with a boss 38 provided with anannular seat 40 in alignment with seat 36 but on the opposite side ofthe diaphragm 16 therefrom. The seat as provides a pocket 42 in boss 38and a threaded opening 44 communicates with this pocket and is adaptedfor attachment to a control line, as will be presently apparent. Anotherthreaded opening 46 is adapted to receive another control line whichcommunicates directly with the upper chamber 18.

The diaphragm consists of two disks 48 and 50 of resilient material,such as neoprene, natural rubber or the like, which have their marginaledge portions clamped between the upper and lower valve sections bymeans of suitable clamping bolts 52. Centrally disposed of andinterposed between the disks 48 and 50 is a smaller disk 54 of rigidmaterial, such as metal or hard plastic, this disk serving to impartrigidity to the central portion of the diaphragm so that the resilientvalve washers 56 and 58 on opposite sides of the diaphragm will not bedistorted and will properly seat against the respective valve seats 40and 36 to reduce leakage to a minimum and assure long life thereto.

It is to be noted that the valve members thus constructed are not onlysimple and economical in construction, but are also endowed of long,trouble-free service.

Associated with each one of the valve members is a float tank, such asthose indicated by the reference numerals F-l, F-2 and F-3. Each floattank has a float valve member 60 disposed therein which is provided with3 an arm 62 pivotally attached as at 64 to a standard 66 within the tankand each arm is provided with a depending link member 68 to which issecured a valve plunger member: 70-slidably disposed in a bore in thestandard166 and movable into and out of engagementwith a seat 72.

for controlling the passage of fluid into the chamber through the bore74.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, it will be seen that thebottom 76 of each tank is provided with a timing valve assembly 78 whichincorporates a cylindrical casing 80 attached to the bottom of the tankand communicating therewith through the tank opening 82 as-shown. Eachcasing is provided with a tubular extension 84 closed by a suitable capmember 86 at its lower end and preferably threadedly engaged orotherwise removably secured to the lower end of the casing. The upperend of the casing 80 threadedly receives a valve seat member 88 providedwith an annular seat 90 at its lower end which is cooperable with aresilient washer 92 provided on the timing valve member 94. The timingvalve isfreely movable in the casing 80 and its extension 84 in themanner shown and is provided with an annular flange 96 adapted to restupon the upper end of the extension 84 and limit the lowermost positionof the timing valve. This flange is provided with a series of apertures98 inasmuch as it is not intended that the seating between the flange 96and the upper end of the extension 84 function in the manner of a valve.The washer 92 seats on another annular flange 99 and is held inengagement therewith by means of a suitable internally threaded sleeve100 engaged on the upper end of the timing valve which projects into thevalve seat member 83 in the manner shown. The casing 80 is provided witha threaded aperture 102 for connection to one of the various controllines C-l, C-2 and (3-3.

All but the very first of the sprinkler or discharge lines 28, 30 and 32are provided with check valve assemblies, CK-2 and CK-3 which, as willbe seen most clearly in Figure 6, incorporate the socket members 15directly connected to the associate discharge lines and threadedlyengaged with the cylinder members 106 forming a chamber 108 communicablethrough the bore 110 in the sockets with the associated discharge line.The upper end of each cylinder is provided with a threaded bore 112 forconnection with one end of the various control lines (-2 and K3. A checkvalve 114 is freely movable in each cylinder and is provided in itsrecessed lower end with a resilient valve member 116 for engaging on theseat 118 of the associated bore 110 and is provided with a generallyL-shaped passage 12% which assures positive communication between thedischarge line and the associated control line through the aperture 112when the check valve body is raised from its seat.

Additionally, the system includes a starting valve S-1 and a stoppingvalve ST-3 associated with the valve members V-1 and V-3, respectively.The starting valve, as seen in Figure 5, incorporates a casing 122having the valve actuator stem 124 slidably disposed therein whichterminates at its lower end in an enlarged head 126 within the enlargedchamber 128 in the casing. The head 126 is recessed to receive anannular washer 130 cooper-able with the seat 132 establishing anddisestablishing connections between the bore 134 and the chamber 128,the bore being provided with a suitable discharge opening 136. The valvehead 126 is normally urged to the closed position shown in Figure 5 byany suitable resilient means, such as the coil spring 138, and the upperend of the plunger is provided with a knob portion which may be actuatedeither manually or by means of a time clock or the like.

The stopping valve ST-3 is composed of a pair of sections 140 and 142which are identical in construction to the previously described uppersections 14 of the valves V= 1, V-2 and V-3, and the stopping valve alsoincorpo rates a diaphragm member 144 identical in construction with thepreviously described diaphragm 16.

Normally, before the beginning of a cycle of operations, all of thediaphragm members 16 are in contact with their respective seats 36 so asto disconnect the various discharge lines 28, 30 and 32 from the mainsupply line 10. This position of the diaphragm is maintained by virtueof the connection of each one of the valve members with the main supplyline through the holding conduits H-1, H-2 and H3, these conduits beingconnected betweenthemain supply line 10 and the threaded openings 44 inthe upper section of the valve member. Thus, since the pressure onopposite sides of the diaphragm is the same, andsince the effective areaof the diaphragm upon which the pressure in the upper section is actingis greater than the area upon which the pressure in the lower section isacting due to the location of the valve seat 36 and the discharge lineassociated therewith, the diaphragms will be held in engagement with thedischarge line seats,3 6 To start a cycle of operations, the startingvalve 8-1 is actuated, which bleeds water through the; line 146and'connection 148 to the threaded opening 46 in the upper section ofvalve V-l and reduces momentarily the pressure in the upper chamber 18therein permitting the main, line pressure in the lower chamber 20 toforce the diaphragm, against the seat 40 in the valve. Thus,v the mainline pressure acts on the entire surface area on the lower side of thediaphragm 16 while the same pressure is only acting on a relativelysmall area as embodied by the area of the pocket 42 on the upper side ofthe diaphragm. Fluid then flows to the sprinklers connected to thedischarge line 28 and, simultaneously, water flows into the float valvechamber through the control line 0-1 and through the metering orifice154 in the lower endof the timing valve 94. That is, when fluid isinitially forced through the control line C-l, it will raise the timingvalve such that its washer 92 is in engagement with the seat 90 andpermits water to enter the float tank only through the metering orifice150 which, as will be clearly seen in Figure 4, is removably positionedin the timing valve so that various sized metering orifices may beemployed to lengthen or shorten the time required to fill the, floattank and thus raise the float 60 to disengage the valve body 70 from itsseat 72.

When the water has reached this level in the float tank, the pressure inthe upper chamber of valve member V-2 will be relieved through therelief line R-2 permitting the diaphragm 16 to unseat from the seatportion of discharge line 30. The water pressure in the discharge line30 will then raise the. check valve body 114 to permit fluid to flowthrough the line K-2 into the upper section of valve V-1 returning thediaphragm 16 therein to the normal position closing off the dischargeline 28. The float tank F-1 will then drain back through the line C1,the timing valve 94 falling by gravity to its lowermost position, untilthe float tank is emptied. The process is then repeated in the dischargeline 30 until the valve member V-3 is relievedv through the relief lineR-3. The system is then in the position shown in Figure l of thedrawings, wherein the discharge line 32 has just been connected with themain pressure line 10 and the float tank F-2 is draininz back throughthe control line C-Z.

The position of the diaphragm 144 in the stop valve ST-3 is normallysuch that the diaphragm is in engagement with the seat 150 whichdisconnects communication between the line 152 and the main pressureline through the conduit 154 connected to the lower chamber of the valveST-3. The main line pressure connection 156, of course, normally keepsthe diaphragm in this normal position. When the float valve of the lastfloat tank F-3 is open, the stop valve ST-3 is relieved through thepressure relief line R-4 permitting the diaphragm to engage against theseat 158 which, through the line 152 and the relief line R -3, returnsthe. diaphragm 16 in the valve member V-3 to its normal position closingthe discharge line 32. The diaphragm in the stop valve member remains inits upper position until such time as the relief line R-3 is open bymeans of the float valve in the float chamber F-Z, at which time thediaphragm returns to the lowermost or normal position.

It is to be noted that the particular construction of the timing valvemechanism shown in Figure 4 is specifii cally adapted and designed tomaintain the lower end of this valve immersed in Water even though thefloat tank is completely dried out by evaporation. That is, the depth ofthe extension 84 is such as to hold a reservoir of water which will lastindefinitely to maintain the metering orifice 150 submerged in water.This is particularly important in western regions of the United Stateswherein the water has a high alkali content. With such water, if thewater is allowed to evaporate and dry in the region of the orifice,alkali deposits would very rapidly close the orifice and render thesystem inoperative.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In an automatically operating fluid distributing system, a fluidpressure supply line, a plurality of sequentially operated valveassemblies connected in series in communication with said line, each ofsaid valve assemblies having an outlet conduit connected thereto, a pressure responsive movable Wall member disposed in each of said valveassemblies dividing the interior thereof into separate first and secondfluid chambers, said supply line and fluid outlet communicating with thefirst of said chambers, said fluid outlet terminating in a valve seat insaid first chamber and engageable with said pressure responsive movablewall, a fluid control line and said fluid line being in communicationwith the second of said chambers, a valve seat contained in said secondfluid supply line, said valve seat being engageable by said pressureresponsive movable wall including an effective area normally urging ittoward a position for closing ofl communication between the supply lineand outlet conduit in said first chamber, a fluid flow responsive flowtiming control valve associated with each of said valve assemblies, afluid line communicating each of said outlet conduits with a respectiveflow timing valve for actuating the latter, a starting valve incommunication with the second chamber of the first in said series ofvalve assemblies for reducing pressure in said second chamber permittingsaid pressure responsive movable wall to close otf communication of saidsupply line with said second chamber, each of the remaining valveassemblies in series having a control line in communication with theirsecond chamber and in communication with the flow timing valveassociated with the previously operated valve assembly, check valvecontrol means in communication with the outlet conduits of the remainingvalve assembly and in communication with the second chamber of apreceding valve assembly, and a fluid pressure responsive valve at theend of said fluid supply line for returning the pressure responsivemovable wall of the last valve assembly in series into contact with thevalve seat of the fluid outlet.

2. In an automatically operating fluid system set forth in claim 1wherein said fluid flow responsive flow timing valve means includes afluid reservoir, a flow control valve in said fluid reservoir incommunication with the control line of a valve assembly to besubsequently operated, and a bleed valve including interchangeableorifices therein for timing the interval of fluid flow to said fluidreservoir.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,267,492 Burroughs Dec. 23, 1941 2,405,010 Bucknam July 30, 19462,619,105 Hauser Nov. 25, 1952

